EDITORIAL: Gaston County is filled with 'big hearts'

Listen to the pundits and you might believe America’s greatest days are behind. We see things differently, finding proof in the generosity of people across America this Christmas and especially in the big hearts who live right here at home.

Despite some of the toughest economic times in generations, people stepped up again this year to ensure Christmas came to others.

â–ª Across the country, the Â“Secret SantaÂ” phenomenon spread as Americans walked into stores and paid off the lay-away bills of total strangers. Similar Â“angelsÂ” paid off utility bills for those in need.

â–ª Volunteers at East Baptist Church in Gastonia served 18 hours straight so that some in Gaston County could receive a hot meal, groceries and Christmas gifts as part of the churchÂ’s 12th Annual Christmas Feast. Church volunteers started cooking at 3 a.m. on Monday to get the meals in motion. The fruits of their labor created happy hearts and satisfied stomachs. Organizers estimated they gave away $10,000 worth of groceries, clothing and toys and fed more than 2,200 people at this yearÂ’s event.

â–ª Another Â“big heart,Â” Gaston CountyÂ’s Terry Usery will make his seventh trip to a village in the Ukraine to be part of a mission team to bring gifts to village children and offer help in general. Usery is the principal at Tryon Elementary School where teachers and staff pitch in to help with his volunteer efforts.

â–ª Chairs were filled to capacity at Gastonia Street Ministry this year as more than 150 homeless residents gathered for a hot meal and Christmas gifts. A team of 20 volunteers gave their time to make the fellowship event happen.

â–ª At The Gazette , dreams came true for young and old as individuals and groups found joy in giving through our Christmas Wishes program.

One man granted a mother’s wish for her kids, just as he has done each year since he moved from this community 20 years ago. More than 190 wishes were granted this year by generous people who find Christmas joy in one-to-one giving. Even on Christmas Wishes, supporters of the program were coming in with donations and gift cards to help grant wishes. And a big thank you to Bill Starr, the Toys for Tots Coordinator for the Marine Corps Reserve who brought three deliveries of toys to The Gazette to help fill wishes.

And then there was the Empty Stocking, overflowing with donations.

Year 2012 will go down as the biggest ever for the fund which helps the Salvation Army help people at Christmas and all through the year.

Reaching the goal of $100,000 seemed impossible four days before Christmas. Then a miracle happened.

People gave. And gave. And gave some more — until $126,000 filled the Stocking from the tip of its toe to the top and beyond.

Page 2 of 2 - To view the complete list of contributors to this year’s Empty Stocking Fund, go to http://www.gastongazette.com/news/local/2013-contributors-to-the-gazette-s-empty-stocking-fund-1.70300.

Just before Christmas, a report from the World Giving Index showed that few other countries give like Americans. This year, according to the report, 57 percent of Americans donated money to charity, 42 percent volunteered their time, 71 percent helped a stranger, making the United States one of the top five most giving countries in the world.

The giving we witnessed during Christmas makes us wonder if these numbers will climb higher. To be sure, it proves that the long-held American value of looking out for each other in the hardest of times has been anything but left behind.